The Swedish Trotting Derby (Swedish: ''Svenskt Travderby'') is an annual national
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
harness event for trotters that is held at
Jägersro
Jägersro is a neighbourhood of Malmö, situated in the Borough of Husie, Malmö Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden.
Jägersro trav & galopp is a horse racing facility located in the neighbourhood. It was opened in 1907 and is the oldest one of ...
Racetrack in
Malmö
Malmö (, ; da, Malmø ) is the largest city in the Swedish county (län) of Scania (Skåne). It is the third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the sixth-largest city in the Nordic region, with a municipal populat ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. It is by many considered the most prestigious Swedish event for 4-year-old racing horses.
The purse in the 2010 final was ≈US$442,000 (SEK 3,200,000), of which the winner, Joke Face, won half.
Location
Through the years, the host of the Derby final has at times annually been Jägersro, but at times, the hostesship has altered between Jägersro,
Solvalla
Solvalla is a horse racing track located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden. It opened in 1927 and is the largest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries. The last Sunday in May, Solvalla annually hosts Elitloppet, one of the most prestigious ...
and
Åby. Since 1966, the final event has been held at Jägersro Racetrack every year.
* 1928 - 1932 Jägersro
* 1933 - 1954 Jägersro or Solvalla
* 1954 - 1965 Jägersro, Åby or Solvalla
* 1966 - Jägersro
Entering the event
To enter the Swedish Trotting Derby, a horse owner is obliged to make four payments, the last approximately seven months before the final is held. In total, these payments consist of ≈US$523 (SEK4,375) as of 2009. In addition to these costs, a supplementary fee of ≈US$761 (SEK6,360) is paid to enter the elimination races 12 days before the final.
[In the conversion to USD, the rates of 2009-02-01, the date of the last payment for the 2009 Derby, have been used.]
Racing conditions
Distance
From the start in 1928 until 1982, the distance of the Derby was in the interval 3,000-3,200 meters. The distance was shortened to in 1983, which has been the distance of the race ever since.
Starting method
The first 32 Derby finals, was started by using volt start. In 1960, auto start was introduced. Since then, a motorized starting gate has been used every year, with exceptions for 1962, 1969 and 1970.
Past winners
Drivers with most wins
* 11 -
Sören Nordin
Ernst Sören Nordin (5 September 1917, in Forsa, Hälsingland – 6 September 2008) was a Swedish harness racing driver and trainer who later started a stable in America. Nordin won 3,221 races in 10 different countries as a driver, he won the Sw ...
* 9 -
Gunnar Nordin
* 7 -
Stig H. Johansson
Stig Henry Johansson (born 26 July 1945 in Forsa, Hälsingland, Forsa, Hälsingland, Sweden) is a Swedish trotting trainer and former driver. He started his career as a professional trainer in 1969, and has during a large part of the career been a ...
* 5 -
Gösta Nordin
* 3 -
Robert Bergh
Trainers with most wins
* 11 - Sören Nordin
* 9 - Gunnar Nordin
* 7 - Stig H. Johansson
* 5 - Gösta Nordin
* 3 - Robert Bergh
Sires with at least two winning offsprings
* 3 - Scotch Nibs (Pecka Trickson, Guy Nibs, Pom Chips)
* 3 - Locomotive (Codex, Smaragd, Locomite)
* 3 - Earl's Mr Will (Isa Will, Lola Will, Willburn)
* 3 - Bulwark (Hetty, Presidenten, Architect)
* 2 - Viking Kronos (Maharajah, Joke Face)
* 2 - Alf Palema (Gazza Degato, Colombian Necktie)
* 2 - Crowntron (Sans Rival,
Queen L.)
* 2 - Count's Pride (Jet Ribb, Gaston Pride)
* 2 - Tibur (Mustard, Big Spender)
* 2 - Sandy Flash (Sassa Hanover, Belle Day)
* 2 - Tulipan (Fakir, Lorry)
* 2 - Peter Pogue (Petersdotter, Peter Spjuver)
* 2 - Dreamer Boy (Ibrahim Pascha, Karina S.)
Winning stallions that have also sired winners
* Björn (1968), sire of May Björn (1979)
* Gay Noon (1953), sire of Gavin (1965)
Winner with lowest odds
* Winning odds: 1.14 - Peter Spjuver (1931)
Winner with highest odds
* Winning odds: 74.36 - Segerstorp Comet (1970)
Fastest winners
2,640 meters auto start
* 1:12.0 (km rate) - Who's Who (2018)
3,000-3,200 meters auto start
* 1:18.9 (km rate) - Mustard (1980)
3,000-3,200 meters volt start
* 1:22.2 (km rate) - Galint (1969)
All winners of the Swedish Trotting Derby
See also
*
List of Scandinavian harness horse races
A list of notable harness horse races which take place annually in Scandinavia, which currently hold Group status in Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical s ...
References
{{reflist
Harness races in Sweden